Free License to Date by Susan Hatler

bringing it over.”  
    He stared at me, brushing my cheek with his other hand. “You’re welcome.”
    Those gorgeous eyes were making my stomach do floppy things again. No, I couldn’t fall for him. But I so wanted to. . . .  
    My heart rate kicked up and I sucked in a breath. “We should probably head up.”
    “Good idea.” The corner of his mouth turned up and he released my hand, then tapped my nose again.
    I let out the breath I’d been holding. Close call. Way too close. As Paul put the tile back in his bag, I gathered our glasses and realized something. I turned toward him accusingly, and gestured with the glass I held. “At the Geoffries, you told me you’d rappelled down a building before.”
    Slinging his bag over his shoulder, he smirked. “You asked me if I’d rappelled before and I said you were in good hands. And you were.”  
    We started walking and I bumped my shoulder into his teasingly. “That’s totally playing with words.”
    “Yet still the truth.” He laughed as he opened the sliding door so I could pass through. “You made it down safely, didn’t you?”
    “Barely,” I said, immediately thinking of our kiss. The kiss that had been uploaded to the Internet. I wondered if he’d seen the article.
    He closed the door behind us. “Next time I’ll make sure it’s more than barely.”
    I smiled over my shoulder then set the glasses on the kitchen counter. “Next time I’ll make sure not to date a man with a weak stomach.”
    “Who is lucky date number three?” He toyed with the cork on the counter as he waited for my answer.
    “Kyle Harper?” Hearing myself say it as a question made me laugh. “My friend Ellen set me up.”
    His brows came together. “What do you know about him?”
    I walked Paul to the door, then turned the handle. “I know he’s getting me one day closer to free labor, which is all I need to know.”
    A look of relief crossed his face and he stepped through the doorway and onto the porch mat before turning back. “How is your friend Kristen doing? She going to be able to help you this weekend?”
    I leaned against the doorjamb. “I’m not sure. I didn’t return messages this evening. My sister, Melanie, came over before you and brought me that vase as a housewarming gift.”
    His eyes flicked over my shoulder toward the gorgeous sea-foam blue vase. “You’ve had a busy night. I should let you get some rest.”
    “Thanks again for bringing over the tile.” I smiled appreciatively then tapped the black bag he was holding. “Let me know when you hear back about the cost.”
    “I will.” His gaze held mine as he stepped forward, cupped my face with both hands, then brushed his thumbs over my cheeks. “You have a nice date tomorrow night.”
    My heart pounded and a rush of butterflies stormed my belly. “Okay,” I whispered.  
    Then he leaned forward slowly and pressed his mouth to mine. My heart fluttered as he brushed feathery-soft kisses across my lips, so warm and gentle a small sound escaped me and I felt light-headed.  
    With one final sweet kiss he pulled away. “Good night.”  
    “Good night.” I bit my bottom lip as he walked toward the curb, then I closed the door and leaned back against the hard surface.
    I’d tried to prove that Paul wasn’t perfect and had failed miserably.  
    My heart was so in trouble.

 
     
    Chapter Seven
     
    I arrived at work Wednesday morning and found Ellen Holbrook waiting in my office—more like sleeping, actually. She wore a peach button-up maternity dress that showed off her adorable baby bump. Her eyes were closed and her hand rested protectively over her ballooning belly.
    Seeing her wedding ring sparkle on her finger caused that image of Paul wearing a tuxedo to pop into my head. His gorgeous blues and his flirty personality had been all I could think about until last night. Now all I could think about was his feathery-soft kisses that made me melt.  
    And made my nerves go on red